Defenceman Scott Lachance entered the 2001-02 season intending to help the Vancouver Canucks build on their improved play the previous season. A fine passer with good mobility, he played the man well in his own zone and was an asset to his team's transitional game.

A native of Chalottesville, Virginia, Lachance attended Boston University where he became one of the top prospects in North America. He was chosen fourth overall by the New York Islanders in the Entry Draft before joining the U.S. national team. During the 1991-92 season, he solidified the team's blueline and helped his country win the bronze medal at the World Junior Championships and place fourth at the Albertville Olympics.

Following the Olympics, Lachance was impressive in the last 17 games of the regular season. He became a fixture on the New York defence for several years. Although his offensive totals were modest, his smooth skating and sound positional play made him an asset to the club. Lachance was chosen to represent the U.S. at the 1996 and 1997 World Championships and participated in the 1997 ANHL All-Star Game.

When the Islanders began to reconfigure their roster in the late 1990s, Lachance was traded to the Montreal Canadiens. He was a solid performer for his new club but left via free agency after the 1999-2000 season. Lachance signed with the Vancouver Canucks and was a stabilizing influence on the improved club in 2000-01. After two seasons on the West Coast, Lachance signed as a free-agent with the Columbus Blue Jackets in the summer of 2002, and became a solid performer on the team's blue line.

REGULAR SEASON

PLAYOFFS

Season

Club

League

GP

G

A

TP

PIM

+/-

GP

G

A

TP

PIM

1988-89

Springfield Olympics

NEJHL

36

8

28

36

20

1989-90

Springfield Olympics

NEJHL

34

25

41

66

62

1990-91

Boston University Terriers

H-East

31

5

19

24

48

1990-91

United States

WJC-A

8

2

1

3

2

1991-92

United States

Nat-Tm

36

1

10

11

34

1991-92

United States

WJC-A

7

1

4

5

0

1991-92

United States

Olympics

8

0

1

1

6

1991-92

New York Islanders

NHL

17

1

4

5

9

+13

1992-93

New York Islanders

NHL

75

7

17

24

67

-1

1993-94

New York Islanders

NHL

74

3

11

14

70

-5

3

0

0

0

0

1994-95

New York Islanders

NHL

26

6

7

13

26

+2

1995-96

New York Islanders

NHL

55

3

10

13

54

-19

1995-96

United States

WC-A

8

0

0

0

2

1996-97

New York Islanders

NHL

81

3

11

14

47

-7

1996-97

United States

WC-A

8

0

2

2

4

1997-98

New York Islanders

NHL

63

2

11

13

45

-11

1998-99

New York Islanders

NHL

59

1

8

9

30

-19

1998-99

Montreal Canadiens

NHL

17

1

1

2

11

-2

1998-99

United States

WC-A

6

0

0

0

4

1999-00

Montreal Canadiens

NHL

57

0

6

6

22

-4

2000-01

Vancouver Canucks

NHL

76

3

11

14

46

+5

2

0

1

1

2

2001-02

Vancouver Canucks

NHL

81

1

10

11

50

+15

6

1

1

2

4

2002-03

Columbus Blue Jackets

NHL

61

0

1

1

46

-20

2003-04

Columbus Blue Jackets

NHL

77

0

4

4

44

-23

2004-05

2005-06

Kloten Flyers

Swiss

28

0

2

2

99

8

1

3

4

12

2006-07

Lowell Devils

AHL

25

0

4

4

14

+2

NHL Totals

819

31

112

143

567

11

1

2

3

6

WJC-A All-Star Team (1991)
Played in NHL All-Star Game (1997)

Traded to Montreal by NY Islanders for Montreal's 3rd round pick (Mattias Weinhandl) in 1999 NHL Draft, March 9, 1999. Signed as a free agent by Vancouver, August 13, 2000. Signed as a free agent by Columbus, July 4, 2002.